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The Association Between Child Autism Symptomatology, Maternal Quality of Life, and Risk for Depression

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Abstract

Parents raising children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have been shown to experience high levels of stress and report a lower quality of life. The current study examined the association between child autism symptomatology, mother’s quality of life, and mother’s risk for depression in a sample of 1,110 mothers recruited from a web-based registry of families with children with an ASD. Higher autism symptomatology and a greater number of co-occurring psychiatric disorders in the child were associated with an increased risk for current treatment of maternal depression and a lower maternal quality of life. The results highlight the importance of screening for depression, particularly in mothers of children with ASD and mental health and behavioral challenges.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Autism Speaks (to P. Law).

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Zablotsky, B., Anderson, C. & Law, P. The Association Between Child Autism Symptomatology, Maternal Quality of Life, and Risk for Depression. J Autism Dev Disord 43, 1946–1955 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-012-1745-z

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